Physical therapists helping AIDS patients (7/23/97)

Physical therapists from The University of Texas Health Science Center
at San Antonio are establishing a relationship with the San Antonio AIDS
Foundation, one that will benefit patients and, in the long term,
students and faculty.

"Apparently many patients are doing better thanks to new drug
regimens," said Tom Turturro, assistant professor of physical therapy
at the Health Science Center. "Of 24 patients currently at the AIDS
Foundation, only two are on hospice care." The foundation is located at
818 E. Grayson, down the street from Fort Sam Houston.

Five patients now at the foundation would benefit from physical therapy
evaluation and treatment, Turturro said. "These individuals need
physical and occupational therapy services. They also need equipment
such as parallel bars."

Turturro was at the AIDS Foundation recently evaluating patient Max
Castillo. Turturro asked questions as Max ambled slowly down the hall
with a walker. "Now lift the walker over your head," the physical
therapist instructed. "Over my head?" the patient asked. "Yes, let's
see if you can do it," Turturro answered.

Max lifted the walker, showing he still has arm strength and fair trunk
balance. AIDS affected his central nervous system, which impacted
primarily his legs.

New medicines called "protease inhibitors" have given Max and other
patients renewed hope. He says he has felt relatively well since January
1995--something unheard of a decade ago in patients with symptomatic
AIDS. The three-drug "cocktail" that Max is prescribed--currently
AZT, 3TC and Viracept--has helped him to fight off the opportunistic
infections such as thrush that are characteristic of AIDS.

AIDS, short for acquired immune deficiency syndrome, is caused by the
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). An estimated 22 million adults and
children are infected with HIV worldwide, including 14 million in sub-
Saharan Africa.

The San Antonio Area Foundation is seeking a grant to buy rehab
equipment for the AIDS Foundation. "The issue here is we have decreased
mortality in these patients and now we need to strengthen them to live
as independently as they can," Turturro said.

"I've been in a wheelchair for over two years," Max said. "When I got
sick my weight dropped to 114 pounds, but now I'm up to 161.'' His
average weight before his illness was 170-175, he added.

"When I first came here [to the AIDS Foundation], if I saw someone
leave it was because they had passed away," he said. "Recently I've
seen at least five people leave because they have gotten well enough to
leave."

Another patient at the foundation the day of Turturro's visit had fallen
to 130 pounds at one time and now weighs 189. He looks healthy,
demonstrating that the face of AIDS is changing. However, rehabilitation
for these patients is expensive and most are not insured. "That's why
we need occupational therapists and physical therapists to volunteer
their services," said Ed Mattes, charge nurse at the AIDS Foundation.

Health Science Center physical therapy faculty and students will benefit
by studying and learning from AIDS patients such as Max, who turns 43
this month.

Max is pain-free and is responding to the "cocktail" of a protease
inhibitor and other medicines. "His upper-body strength is good and his
hands are strong," Turturro said. "Just his legs are weak."

"I hope to walk and get my own place," Max said. "And, if I continue
to be in good health, I hope to find something to do."

Mattes has seen many patients die in the last five years. "I don't want
to say everything is great, because some patients can't take the new
protease inhibitors," he said. "But there is hope and we need people
to come work with patients like Max."